Thursday, 21 February 2013

Welcome romance author, Ann Montclair...

Lady in Deed

by Ann Montclair

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Piety or
passion… What’s a lady to do?

Lady Mary Rutherford believed she would
live her entire life as a nun. Butwhen King Henry VIII’s reformist movement makes practicing religion
adangerous proposition, Mary is
forced to begin a new life with a familyshe doesn't know. Worse, she must become lady of the manor, a role for which
she feels sorely unprepared.

After a decade of service to his king, Lord
Trenton Stanley returns hometo
find his estate in ruins, his fortune depleted, and his dodderingfather drooling over Mary—a woman Trent
fears has been installed toreplace his mother. Trent strives to rebuild his life, but his desire
for Mary becomes a serious distraction he can’t seem to ignore.

Though Mary is anxious to prove she’s a
worthy lady, she’s tempted by the rakish Trent into deeds most unladylike…

EXCERPT

He wanted to reach out and touch
her soft yellow hair, move it from her proud shoulders, and hold her closely.
Her outrage evoked a strange tenderness in Trent, but also bitterness. Who was
this chit, and why did she act like he’d done her harm? They rode in his coach
with his driver, and she was, what, a guest, a ward? An unwelcome one if she
kept glaring with those icy eyes. Trent couldn’t help it. He actually found her
unbelievably attractive, even if her gaze promised no reward.

“And you are my ward? How so? Do
tell, my ‘lady.’” He exaggerated the last to reinforce he doubted her
assertion. His lifted brow named her a liar. The woman drew a deep and ragged
breath, and pounded on the coach top to indicate to James this journey had come
to a most unfavourable end.

As the carriage slowed to stop,
she flung the door wide, and escaped like a songbird from its cage in one swift
movement. The snow had subsided, but the accumulated flakes softened her
landing. Her little satin slippers proved no match for the slushy stuff, and
her whole body shifted and sagged onto the frozen earth. Trent bounded to her
side and hoisted her rigid body into the coach.

James began to clamber down.
“What has happened? What have I done?”

“James, on to Stanley Hall. This
woman claims it is our mutual destination.”

“She is correct, my lord, and her
name is the Lady Mary Rutherford.”

“Roll on!”

Trent set Mary upon the carriage
bench with care. She slumped onto the seat and pulled her feet under her like a
curled cat with claws finally retracted. With the rich fur he gently placed
over her shoulders, she seemed small and vulnerable, but the rosy lips and
flashing eyes revealed a fire within. He attempted a conciliatory smile, but
her round eyes narrowed, and she sniffed and turned up her nose. She would not
be mollified much less appeased. Was the little temptress ward to his father?
Trent cringed with embarrassment that he had violated her with much vigour.
Passion had clouded his judgment.

“Damn this to hell!” His temper
exploded.

Mary flinched and then looked at
him with utter disbelief. “Do not speak so. God bless you, my lord.”

Her words sounded more curse than
blessing.

“Lady…Mary, is it?”

“Yes,” she hissed. “I am your
cousin come to be your ward. Not by choice, I was recently turned out of a nunnery
— ”

Trent guffawed. “A nunnery, miss?
Truly?”

Lady Mary continued stiffly as if
Trent hadn’t spoken. “I assure you my leave was due to the state of the kingdom
and not any wrongdoing on my part.” She shook her head as if scolding a naughty
schoolboy, and she caught her lower lip between her teeth, staring at him with
frank puzzlement. He was struck by the innocent yet sensual gesture.

“Do go on with your winsome
tale.”

Mary turned her back, and before
he could elicit more information or explain his honest error, the coach stopped
again. They’d arrived at his family’s estate.

AUTHOR Bio and
Links:

Ann Montclair writes contemporary and historical fiction and is an
English professor at a small, rural community college. She was born in Los
Angeles, California, where her parents and grown daughter now reside. Ann
currently lives in the Finger Lakes region of New York with her husband, son,
and a pile of dogs and cats. She enjoys listening to live music, hiking,
cycling, cooking, and gardening. She hates dieting but spends a lot of time
ruminating on the topic. Her biggest wish is that each of her readers will be
inspired to believe in and find their own happily-ever-after, no matter their
fears and insecurities. Her motto is Love triumphs! Ann has three published
contemporary romance novels: The Billionaire’s Bauble (Soul Mate Publishing 2011),
One Wet Summer (Musa Publishing 2012), and Good Things Come in Tall Packages
(Musa Publishing 2012). Lady in Deed (Musa Publishing 2012) is her first
historical romance. Lady is the Law, another Tudor historical romance, is
forthcoming 2013.